Houston Mom Charged With Murder in Infant’s Hot Car Death A Year Ago

A Texas mother has been charged with murder after she reportedly left her 11-week-old son in a parked car last year.

Gabriela Elyzabeth Deras has been charged with murder after an autopsy called the baby boy’s death a homicide, according to Houston Police, who arrested her on Friday.

Houston Police said they were called to the scene on August 8, 2023, after the baby was found in Gabriela Elyzabeth Deras’s car, where he had been “for some time before he was discovered.” Ethan Rosa Deras was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

According to an arrest affidavit, Deras arrived at a clinic with the baby and her 3-year-old son but only took the toddler inside, Law&Crime reported. The temperature that day was about 95 degrees with a heat index of 100, police said.

According to the affidavit, Deras came back to the car after about three hours and found the baby foaming at th emouth and not breathing. She brought him inside for help, and first responders were called. According to the affidavit, the boy’s body temperature was 108 degrees.

Deras reportedly gave conflicting accounts about what happened, saying she left the baby in the car by accident but also saying she thought she left him at home with his grandmother. She also initially said she left the car running with the air conditioning on but later admitted that wasn’t true.

The autopsy determined that the boy died of hypothermia.

Deras is being held a on $50,000 bond and is due in court on October 16.

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[Featured image: Gabriela Elyzabeth Deras/Houston Police Department]